Session II: Climate Change and Food Security in the World’s Most Vulnerable Regions

Fall 2014

Monday, November 3, 2014 to Friday, November 14, 2014

It is projected that, by 2050, the world’s population will grow to 9 billion and agricultural production will need to increase by 70% to sustain the world’s food needs. (Source: FAO, 2009) In the world’s most vulnerable regions, this rising demand for food production will take place in an environment with more severe weather events, more lost production due to climate change, and increased stress on limited natural resources.

This session will examine the relationship between food security and global climate change and will introduce students to the techniques and policy activities CRS is undertaking to become more climate-smart. One example is the groundbreaking Africa Climate-Smart Agriculture Alliance, of which CRS is a founding partner, which aims to contribute to the African Union’s goal of helping 25 million farmers become food secure by 2025. Finally, the session will ask participants to reflect on our role in mitigating the impacts of global climate change on food security.